Dispensing unit



W. L. M DANIEL DISPENSING UNIT Jan. 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1953 'W/7/iam L. McDam'e/ INVENTOR.

Jan. 27, 1959 w. L. MCDANIEL ,8

DISPENSING UNIT Filed Dec. 29, 1953 4 Sheet-Sheet 21 Fig. 2

INNNIINIWWW' m'lliam L. McDaniel INVENTOR.

BY WWW Jan. 27, 1959 L. MCDANIEL 2,870,895

DISPENSING UNIT Filed Dec. 29, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 limnml Huang!!! William L. McDaniel JNVENTOR.

Ja n. 27, 1959 w. L. MCDAIVIEL 2, 7

DISPENSING UNIT Filed Dec. 29, 1953 4 Sheets-$11681. 4

' William L .McDam/ as r INVENTORJ BY a -m,

United States Patfl o 2,870,895 DISPENSING UNIT I William L. McDaniel, Camp Hill, Ala. Application December, 1953, Serial No. 400,875 11 Claims. Cl. 194-10 This invention relates generally to dispensing assemblies and pertains more particularly to an improved form of dispensing unit. p i I A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of dispensing unit including novel and improved mechanism for elevating an article to be dispensed to a position wherein it may be dispensed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of dispensing unit including an actuating bar and switch means associated therewithfor controlling elevation o-f the articles to be dispensed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an being provided with a forward extension defining a downwardly inclined apron 30 for retaining articles dispensed.

Asseen most clearly in Figures 1-3, a winding drum 32 is journaled at its opposite ends in a suitable bracket 34 secured within the housing, and a flexible element 36 is connected at one end thereto and extends therefrom over a first guide pulley 38 adjacent the upper end of the first vertical well, downwardly into the well beneath the pulley members 40 secured to the carriage assembly indicated generally by the reference character 42 and thence upwardly of the well over a second guide pulley 44 and thence downwardly in the rear well beneath a pulley assembly 45 of the carriage assembly 46 and thence up to the top of the rear well to a point of attachment as at 48 to the bottom wall 24. Initially, it will be manifest that both the carriage members 42 and are disposed at the bottoms of theirrespective wells, and that the articles 50 to be dispensed are disposed in vertically stacked improved dispensing unit in conformity withfthe fore going objects in which a housing is provided with a vertical Well and a carriage movable vertically therein for elevating individual articles to an operative position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide: an

improved dispensing unit in conformity with theforegoing object in which a track and an actuating bar are disposed in overlying relation to the Well and a pusher eleeat is slidably received on the track member fordispensing articles horizontally to a discharge point.

Thesetogether with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partnhereofpwherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, andin which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section takenthrough a dispensing unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the carriage actuating assembly; i u i Figure 3 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Figure2; p j

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 in Figure l; i Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the carriage members; i l

, Figure 6 is anenlarged verticalsection taken through the lower end of thecoin chute assembly; u Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the upper portion of the dispensing unit and showing details of the pusher assembly; p I a Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the pusher operating drum;and it Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the coin ejecting assembly. 6

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will tjon walls 16 such that a dispensing tunnel is formed-at member 96 in the manner shown.

relation -on top of these carriages and that when the drum 32 is rotated, the articles in the first well will be moved upwardly by the first carriage, 42 until this well i will be dispensed upwardly.

For the purpose of rotating the drum 32, one end thereof is provided with a ratchet wheel 52 and a pawl arm 54 is engaged with the teeth thereof in the manner shown, the arm being pivotally connected, as at 56, to a vertical actuating lever 58 carrying a cam roller 60 thereon and pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 62, to the bracket 34-. A strap member 64 is secured to the lever 58 and projects therebelow and is provided with a button member 66 for attractionby the electromagnet assembly 68, the normal position of the lever 58 being such as to space the button 66 from the core thereof. The lower end of the strap 64 is provided with a horizontal arm 70 rigidly afiixed thereto and a resilient strap '72 is secured to the free end of the element70 and carries at its upper end the generally Y-shaped holding pawl assembly 74, in the manner shown. During winding operation of the drum 32, the elec'tromagnet 68 is energized in a manner hereinafter described to pivot the lever 58 about its pivot 62 such that the cam roller60 is moved toward the cam element 76 provided on the camshaft 78. The camshaft 78 is rotated] by any suitable means and is actuated simultaneously with the actuation of the electromagnet 68 and the lobes on the cam 76 effect oscillation of the lever 58 such as to impart winding motion to the drum 32 as will bemanifest.

As seen most clearly in Figure 7, a horizontal track bar 80 is pivotally connected at its forward end, as at 82, to the housing assembly, and suitable means are provided is exhausted, whereupon the articles in the second well at this pivot point for maintaining the track element in a pending leg 86 thereon provided at its lower end with an inverted substantially L-shaped pusher element 88. The leg 86 also carries a roller member 90. A pair of de: pending arm members 92 are pivotally secured at their upper ends to thetrack elements 30 and are pivotally connected at theirlower ends to the opposite ends of an actuating bar 94 provided with an adjustable stop The operation of the pusher assembly is such as to horizontally dispense an article 50 from the position shown in Figure l outwardly of the dispensing unit through the door 28.

For the purpose of moving the pusher assembly, a drum member 98 is provided which is freely journaled but longi tudinally affixed on a drive shaft 100 carried by the housing and driven by any suitable means, as hereinafter set forth. A flexible member 102 is secured at one end to the drum 98' and extends therefrom to a point of attachment on an ear 104 on the sleeve 84 and a further ear 106 on the sleeve provides a point of attachment for a further flexible element 108 which. extends therefrom over a guide pulley 110 pivotally journaled between suitable bracket ears 112 on the rear end of the track bar 80 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 7. The element 108 extends therefrom over a pair of vertically spaced pulleys 114 and 116 and carries a weight member 118 at its free end for a purpose presently apparent.

As seen most clearly in Figure 8, one end of the pulley 98 is provided with the dog tooth elements 120 engageable with dog tooth. elements 122 on an electromagnet assembly 124, the electromagnet being keyed to the shaft 100 but longitudinally slidable therealong. One end of the electromagnet is provided with a slip ring 126 and the shaft 100 is provided with a stop collar 128 for positioning the electromagnet. A spring 130 is disposed between the opposed ends of the electromagnet 124 and pulley 98 such as to normally urge the dog tooth elements in spaced apart non-mating relation, and it will be manifest that the energization of the electromagnet will effect engagement of these teeth.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, it will be seen that each of the previously mentioned carriage members 42 and 46 includes a platform portion 132 and a centrally depending transverse stem portion 134, the stem portion comprising spaced side wall members between which the horizontal pin members 136 extend. These pins journal the previously mentioned pulley members 40 or 45, 'as the case may be, between the side walls of the stem portion. The lower ends of the side Walls at their opposite sides are interconnected by the flange portions 138 and laterally projecting horizontally disposed rivets 140 are secured to each of these flanges, the rivets journaling the roller sleeves 142 thereon. These rollers are received in the opposed U-shaped guide members previously described and guide the carriages within the wells as will be manifest.

The coin control mechanism is shown most clearly in Figures 6 and 7 and is seen to consist of an elongated,

vertically disposed chute 144 pivoted at 146 to a bracket 148 secured to front wall 26. Normally, the chute hangs freely from its suspension point and is disposed in the position shown in Figures 6 and 7. A switch contact 150 is secured to the lower end of the chute and is insulated therefrom by a strip 152 of suitable material. Another switch contact 154 is secured to the wall,26, being insulated therefrom, and both contacts are provided with lead wires 156 forming part of the electrical control circuit of the machine, these lead wires being connected to the clutch control electromagnet 124 such that this member is energizedwhen the contacts 150 and 154 are engaged.

The upper end of the chute is enlarged to provide a receiving funnel 158 underlying the coin feed block 160. The feed block has a passage 162 for coins, as will be readily apparent.

An L-shaped bellcrank 164 is pivoted intermediate its ends by a pin 166 to bracket 168 on the wall 26 and the crank will be seen to comprise a horizontal arm 170 and the vertical arm 172. The free end of the horizontal arm is pivotally attached to the upper end of lever 174, the. lower end of which encompasses an eccentric 176 on shaft 100, In this manner, it will be seen that rotation of shaft 100 imparts vertical reciprocation to the upperend of lever 174 such that the bellcrank 164 oscillates about. its pivot 166. The vertical arm 172 of the. bellcrank has v 4 a transverse threaded aperture at its free end receiving the abutment bolt 178 which extends therefrom toward the lower end of the coin chute. An aperture 180 in the coin chute permits the screw to enter thereinto, and the screw is initially adjusted such that no movement of the chute is effected until such time as a coin 182, see Figure 6, is in place, whereupon the reciprocation of the abutment screw effected by the oscillation of the bellcrank will cause the abutment screw, by virtue of the thickness of the coin 182 to swing the chute to a position wherein the contacts 150 and 154 are closed. To simplify the electrical circuits and the construction and number of operating parts, the shaft is driven at all times so that the bellcrank 164 is constantly oscillating.

In order that the contacts remain closed to effect complete movement of the pusher 88, the chute 144 is provided with a permanent magnet member 184 and the wall 26 likewise carries such a magnet member 186. These magnet are not strong enough to move the chute from the position of rest to the switch contact closing position, but are of sufficient strength to maintain the chute in contact closing position.

While the chute is in the contact closing position, mechanism is provided for moving the coin 182 to a suitable collecting point, which consists of a tray 188 secured to the wall 26 and underlying the open bottom end of the chute. The tray has a slot 190 therein which permits the coin to fall through the open end of the chute when the same has been moved to close the contacts and 154 and also has a stop flange 192 against which the chute rests in its normal or rest position. Below the tray 188 is the endless conveyer belt 194 trained about drum members, one of which is power driven, rotatably secured to Wall 26, one such roller being indicated at 196. Below the tray 188 and immediately beneath the upper flight of the conveyor belt 194 is another tray 198 to support the belt at this point as the coin drops through the upper tray. The lower tray 198 also, by virtue of its vertical flange portion 200, prevents coins from bouncing or rolling off the conveyor belt. Any suitable receptacle may be provided at the end of the conveyor for receiving the coins.

Operation The beginning of the cycle of operations will be considered to be the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 7, wherein the next article 50 to be dispensed has been elevated to the position in which it has engaged and slightly raised the actuating bar 94. Now, when a coin is received in the chute, the reciprocating abutment screw 178 will move the chute to the position in which the contacts 150 and 154 are closed, completing the circuit to the electromagnet 124 to clutch the drum 98 to the constantly rotating shaft 100. Thus, the-flexible element 102 will be wound upon the drum and move the pusher 88 to engage against and dispense the article 50. At the end of its path of travel, the pusher carrying leg 86 strikes the stop member 96. This action swings the actuating bar 94 to the right in Figures 1 and 7, causing the depending arm members 92 to move counter-clockwise. One of the arms 92 extends beyond the pivotal connection to the track bar 80 in the extension portion 202 which is apertured to receive one end of a tension spring 204, the other end of which has a flexible cord 206 attached thereto. With the assembly in the position shown in Figure 7, there is a slight amount of slack in the cord 206 which permits the chute to be swung to the operating position and be held there by the permanent magnets. However, when the leg 86 strikes the stop 96, the movement of the extension will pull against the chute since the cord 206 is secured to the car 208 affixed thereto, and the chute will therefore be swung or snapped back to its original position, breaking the contacts 150 and 154 and thus declutching the drive to drum ihe extension 202 also carries a switch contact 210- engageable with a fixed contact 212 on the track bar,

these contacts being opened in the position of Figures 1 r will keep the bar elevated. As soon asthe pusher has been returned to its initial position, the bar 94. will swing by gravity to itslowermost position, causing the contacts 210 and 212 to close. This completes the circuit to the source of power for rotating shaft 78 and to magnet 68. t

The cam 76 on shaft 78 oscillates the arm 58 to ratchet the winding drum 32 for elevating the next article to be dispensed. When this article engages against and elevates the bar 94, the contacts 210 and 212 are broken, and the drive to shaft 78 is interrupted. This completes one cycle of operation and the next article is ready to be dispensed.

To reload the wells, a cord 214, connected to the end of pawl arm 54 as shown in Figure 2, is pulled to disengage the pawl arm from ratchet wheel 52, permitting the lever 58 to swing about its pivot 62 and also disengage the holding pawl 74 from the ratchet wheel. In this manner, articles may be stacked in the receiving wells.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

. What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a coin controlled dispensing machine, a pivotally mounted chute, switch means actuated in response to movement of said chute into one position,jand means for moving said chute to said one position when a coin is received therein, means for moving said chute includes a contlnuously oscillating bellcrank, an abutment member carried at one end of said crank, said chute being in the path of movement of said abutment member, and means for holding said chute in said one position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for holding said chute in said one position comprises a permanentmagnet.

3. A dispensing unit comprising a housing having a passage therethrough opening into a well thereof for dispensing articles therefrom, an actuating bar suspended at both ends in said passage parallel with the passage and upwardly andendwise movable in response to movement of an article to be dispensed into the passage, means for moving an article into the passage rendered inoperable by upward movement of said actuating bar, pusher means for moving an article through said passage for dispensing the article from the housing, means for moving said pusher means, operating means interconnecting said actuator bar, pusher means, and article moving means for sequentially operating said article moving means, and said pusher means.

4. A dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having the electroa plurality of parallel vertical wells formed therein, and

a dispensing passage into which the upper ends of said wells open, carriages vertically, slidably disposed in said wells for lifting articles from the Wells into the dispensing passage, means for sequentially raising the carriages in said wells whereby the wells will be sequentially emptied, and electro-magnetically controlled ratchet and pawl operating means for said last means rendered inoperative in response to lifting of an article into said passage.

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having a plurality of parallel vertical wells formed therein, and

a dispensing passage into which the upper ends of said wells open, carriages vertically, slidably disposed in said wells for lifting articles from the wells into the dispensing passage, means for sequentially raising the carriages in said wells whereby the wellswill be sequentially emptied, switch means controlling operation of said carriage raising means,said switch means operating in response to reception of an article into said passage torerider said carriage raising means inoperable and includingan actuator bar,

pusher means movable through said dispensingpassage for dispensing articles from the passage inengagement with said actuator bar and engageable with and disengageable from said actuator bar,said switch means closing in response to disengagement of. said pusher means from said actuator bar.

6. A dispensing apparatus comprisinga housing having a plurality of parallel vertical wells formed therein, and" a dispensing passage into which the upper ends of said wells open, carriages vertically, slidably disposed in said wells for lifting articles from the wells into the dispensing passage, meansfor sequentially raising the carriages in said wells whereby the wells: will be sequentially emptied, switch means controlling operation of said carriage raising means,1said switch means operating in re- .sponse to reception ofan article into said passage "to render said carriage raising means inoperable, and in eluding an actuator bar, pusher means movable through :said dispensing passage for dispensing articles from the passage in engagement with said actuator bar and en- ,gageable with and disengageable from said actuator bar, said switch means closing in response to disengagement of said pusher means from said actuator bar, pusher moving means for moving said pusher means along said track in one direction to move an article through the passage, stop means on said actuator bar limiting movement of said pusher means in said one direction, means interconnecting said actuator bar de-energizing said pusher moving means as said pusher means engages said sto means. i I

7. A dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having :a well therein, a carriage vertically slidable in said well, said housing having a generally horizontally extending dispensing passage communicating with the top of said well, means for moving said carriage upwardly through said well to move an article from the well into the dispensing passage, a horizontal guide track in said passage, an actuator bar pivotally suspended from said guide track in generally parallel relation thereto, a switch operably connecting said actuator bar and said carriage :moving means, said actuator bar opening said switch and de-energizing said carriage moving means upon engagement therewith of an article to be dispensed."

8. ma housing, a check controlled mechanism comprising an elongated coin chute swingably attached intermediate its ends to the housing, abell crank swingably mounted in the housing adjacent the coin chute, said chute having a sidewall opening therein, one arm of said bell crank swinging into and out of said opening and causing said chute to swing in one direction when a check is deposited therein, means retaining said chute in its :swung position, pusher means rendered operable by said chute when the chute is in its swung position, and means actuated by said pusher means releasing said chute from .its swung position.

9. A dispensing unit comprising a housing having a front wall and a horizontal top tunnel having an opening through said front wall and for discharging articles from the housing, a well formed in the housing below .said tunnel and opening into the tunnel, a carriage ver- ;tically slidable in the well to lift articles into the tunnel, electrically controlled means for sliding said carriage vertically, a horizontal track bar disposed longitudinally in said tunnel, a vertically disposed pusher slidable on said track bar for pushing articles through the tunnel, an actuating bar for said electrically controlled means,

means pivotally suspending-said actuating bar from said track bar for gravitational movement downwardly and upward movement 'by an article lifted into the tunnel, and switch forming devices on said track bar and suspending me-ans for controlling said electrically controlled means engaged and disengaged to open and close the switch in response to downward and upward movement of said actuating bar. I

v 10. The combination of claim 9, said suspending means comprising a pair of links pivoted to said track bar and to said actuating bar.

11. A dispensing unit comprising a housing having a front wall and a tunnel communicating exteriorly of the housing with an opening in the housing for dispensing an article from the housing, a well formed in said housing below said tunnel and opening into said tunnel, a carr iage vertically slidable in said well, means for vertically moving said carriage for moving articles from the Well into the tunnel, a horizontal track member disposed longitudinally of said tunnel, a pusher slidable on said track member through said tunnel toward and away from the opening in said front Wall for moving an article through said tunnel, means for imparting movement of the pusher, an actuator bar for actuating said carriage moving means underlying said track member and pivotally connected thereto for movement in a vertical plane to an inoperative position upon movement of an article into the tunnel to stop said carriage moving means, switch means on said track member responsive to movement of said actuating bar, said switch means operating said carriage moving means upon passage of an article from said tunnel, Said means for moving the pusher toward the opening comprising a continuously rotating shaft, a drum journaled on said shaft, a clutch for connecting said drum to Said shaft for rotation therewith, and aflexible member wound on said drum and connected to said pusher.

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Terhune May 11, 1948 2,522,033 Graham Sept. 12, 1950 Tandl e'r et a1. Mar. 23, 1952 

